-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Florida judge sentenced Rachel Wade , the 20-year-old woman convicted of second-degree murder for fatally stabbing her romantic rival in a fight last year , to 27 years in prison Friday .

While acknowledging mitigating factors -- primarily Wade 's youth and lack of a criminal past -- the judge said her actions were not `` unaggravating . ''

`` The murder was no accident , '' Judge Joseph Bulone said .

Wade went to trial in July , accused of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 18-year-old Sarah Ludemann . The two women , only teenagers at the time , had fought for months via voicemails , text messages and MySpace postings over their relationship with the same man , Joshua Camacho .

The feud culminated in a fatal confrontation in the early morning hours of April 15 , 2009 .

After a three-day trial and only two and a half hours of deliberation , a jury of five men and one woman convicted Wade of second-degree murder . Wade had claimed self-defense and hoped for an acquittal or no more than a manslaughter conviction .

A life sentence was recommended by Florida prosecutors . The defense had recommended 15 years , followed by 15 years of probation .

TruTV 's `` In Session '' correspondent Beth Karas spoke to Wade days before her sentencing .

`` I think about it every day , regardless if they give me five years or 20 years more than they could give me , '' Wade said . `` I never meant to do it , and I 'm still gon na have to live with it , no matter if I 'm home or if I 'm in prison . ''

Wade 's lawyer told HLN Friday that the sentence was `` very fair . ''

`` I just do n't think this was a case that called for life , '' said Jay Hebert .

Hebert said the case is a cautionary tale about the potentially deadly mix of young people and modern communications technology .

`` When you start looking at the tragic nature of this , the social networking , the instant messaging , the ability of people to hide behind the screen and make statements and create situations -- it just festered until it bubbled up and exploded into a situation ... until two good girls , their worlds collided , '' he said .

Hebert said Wade has resolved to teach young people about the dangers associated with social networking .

`` I do n't think we can appreciate how young people talk , '' he said . `` And that 's the lesson for parents . Pay close attention to your children . Watch how they talk and who they talk to . Watch their social networking outlets . ''

`` Because it 's an explosive situation when when you do n't have to be accountable , when you can break up with somebody or ask somebody to prom via text , '' he said . `` There 's no face-to-face interaction . ''

In Session Correspondent Beth Karas contributed to this report .

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NEW : Defendant Rachel Wade 's lawyer says sentence is `` very fair ''

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Wade sentenced in April 2009 stabbing death of Sarah Ludemann

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Wade was convicted of second-degree murder

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The two women were involved with the same man